Apparatus for manufacturing covered belt buckles



Aug, 26, 1941. s. LEVIN EFAL 2,254,077 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COVEREb BELT BUCKLES Filed June 30, 1938 S Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: Jamel ATTORN EY Aug. 26, 1941. s. LEVIN EIAL APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COVERED BELT BUCKLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jfine so, 1938 Lou/isKosen ATTO R N EY Aug. 26, 1941. s. LEVIN ET AL APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COVERED BELT BUCKLES Filed June 50, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO gamusl Leo l'n outs b enbezy BY ATTORN Patented Aug. 26', 1941 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COVERED BELT 'BUCKLES Samuel Levin, New Yotk, and Louis Rosenberg,

. Brooklyn, N. Y

Application June 30, 1938, Serial No.,216,774

3 Claims. I ((31. 29-3) This invention relates to improvements in covered belt buckle and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same. In conventional covered belt buckles a hollow frame surrounding a belt-receiving opening or aperture is composed of top and bottom reinforcing shells of metal or like rigid material having edge flanges, and these shells are covered by a suitable flexible covering material, the covering material in the manufacturing operation being initially folded around both the outer and inner flanges at the edges of each of the shells, after which the flanges at the outer and inner edges of the top and bottom shells so covered are frictionally fastened together by a suitable die to interlock the shells and to fasten both the inner and outer edges of the flexible covering material between the flanges or edges of the shells or reinforcing members, while the flanges along the belt-receiving opening were forced into close abutment. In the said manufacturing operation, a die is usually employed in which core members having the shape of the belt-receiving opening and outer rim members having the shape of the outer edge of. the buckle are-moved into interengaging movable relationship to a pres sure-applying head while the intermediate shellcontacting portions remain in stationary position with relation to such head during the clinching actionof the head on the buckle frame. This mechanism, though effective 'in clinching the edges both along the belt-receiving opening and the outer edge of the buckle, made-it by pressing and fastening the top and bottom portions of covering material along a strip closely adjacent to the outer edge of the frame and allowing the outer edges of such. covering memthe intermediate shell-contacting"*members in stationary position in relation to the pressing head and utilizing rim and core members which move in relation to said head and shell-contacting members, we retain the rim and core members in stationary relationship to the pressureapplying head and provide for a resilient movement of the upper frame-contacting intermediate member in relation to said head and to relatively stationary core and rim members. j By retaining the rim member in stationary relationship to the pressure-applying head, we. are enabled simultaneously to provide for an outward extension and pressing of the outer edges of the covering members andfor a clinching action between the edges of the top and bottom shells at the edges of the belt-receiving aperture and by providing for a relative movement of a frame.- contacting member we are enabled to produce a covering member prior to the pressing and fastening action of the two'covering members. By retaining the rim members ,in stationary position, we also leave space in the plane of the meeting covering edges to enable outward extension and. ornamentation thereof in any suite able way, as for example by scalloping or providing saw teeth at the edges or by leaving elongated projecting portionswhich may, in conformation, be dove-tailed or of any other suitabl shape.

Another object of thisinvention is to enable the production of belt buckles having top and bottom. reinforcing frame members of rigid malapped .joint being formed by a pressing between abutting .rim members of the apparatus and a fastening together, preferably by cement or the like, of such outer edges, such outer edges being formed in any suitable shape or design and when sofastened together forming a highly ornamental and rigidbelt buckle.

Another object of our invention is to produce, by a mechanical process, a belt buckle structure of the type specified, having its cover members provided with outwardly extending edges capable of being ornamented wherebysuch outwardly extending edges areyin a single operation, ini tially bent'downwardly' over the outer edges of With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and co-operate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishthe two members are also provided with flanges 4. In the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated, a pair of these shells comprising an upper shell and a lower shell, which are adapted to seat one within the other, are covered with a pair of substantially identical cover members 6, (Fig. 3). These cover members are provided with belt-receiving openings 3 registering with the shell aperturesand have, along their marginal edges, flaps 1 so out as to be foldable over the internal aperture flanges of the shell. In the present embodiment of Our invention, the cover members 6 are preferably provided at their outer I perimeterswith ornamental edges 8 which, in

ment of the results herein contemplated, and

comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of one of two metal shells used in making our covered belt buckle;

Fig. 2 is a viewin plan of the under-side. of the shell shown in Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is 'a View in plan of one of two similar cover members used in covering a pair of shells such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig." 4 is a view in plan of a completed belt buckle embodying our invention;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a press shown in the operation of fastening the upper shell and cover members to the upper core portion of the press head;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the press head and bed separated to show the upper shell and cover members frictionally fastened to said core portion;

Fig. is a View partly in elevation and partly in section similar to Fig. 5, showing the press, with an intermediate member inserted between the head and bed, in the operation of fastening the lower shell and cover members to the lower core; I a Fig; 8 is a view of the press shown in Fig. '7, with the intermediate member inverted and the upper and lower shells and cover members assembled and ready for the clinching and pressing operation;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the parts, pressed together to complete the buckle; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the press shown in Figs. '7 and 9, the section being taken at right anglesto that shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross section of a completed belt buckle removed from the press;

Fig. 11 is a view in plan of a modified form of buckle embodying our invention and showing a supplemental frame, along the edges of the beltreceiving opening;

Fig. 12 is a view in plan of another modified form of belt buckle embodying our invention; and

' Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, I (Fig. .1) indicates, in top elevation, a member of a pair of conventional shells used in making belt buckles. Such shells are conventionally provided, attheir peripheries, with interengagingrim flanges 2 and preferably have tongue-post sections 5 separating a belt-receiving aperture into two parts 3, 3'. The belt-receiving apertures of Figs. 3 and 4, we have shown as circular and serrated while in Figs. 11 to 13 a square shape and a shape of dovetail conformation is shown.

The edges 8 of the members 6 have outwardlyextending perimetric portions which are not folded inwardly but are extended outwardly to provide abutting flanges 8 which are connected together by a pressed joint. In Fig. 4, this pressed joint extends around the perimeter 8 of the circular shells, while'in Fig. 11 the joint extends along the marginal edge 8 of a square shell and in Fig. 12 this joint extends along the rounded portions 8*, 8 and along the dove-tailed portions 8, 8, the edges of all of which are preferably serrated or otherwise ornamented.

In accordance with our present invention we are enabled, by mechanical means, not only to produce belt buckles having outwardly extended perimetric portions which are capable of themselves being'ornamented and of providing ornamentation for the belt buckle but of producing such belt buckles with top and bottom shells which add to the rigidity of the belt buckle structure and with this end in view, we provide a novel process and apparatus for making a belt buckle embodying top and bottom reinforcing members or shells covered with upper and lower cover members each provided with belt-receiving apertures and having their edges at such apertures folded around their respective edges of the beltreceiving aperture in the frame members. These shell members are utilized not only to reinforce the buckle when completed, but also are employed, during the manufacturing operation,,to support the cover members in proper relationship to permit the cover members to beclinched around the edges of the shells at the belt-receiving aperture and locked together by pressing of the shells into interengagement and providing a pressed joint at the outer edges thereof, all in a single operation.

In the preferred form of our invention, the joint formed by clinching of the cover. members between the interengaged shell flanges at the belt-receiving aperture is, in the conventional manner, formed within planes coinciding. with the top and bottom of the shell members while the pressed joint at the outer edge of the belt is formed in a plane substantially coinciding with the bottom surface of the lower shell member, so that when the belt is in use this outwardlyextending portion will lie flat against the body of the wearer. Also, in the preferred embodiment of our invention, the perimetric flanges of the shell members are preferably clinched together within the belt-buckle adjacent to the pressed joint hereinabove referred to.

In accordance with'our invention, we take a rigid top frame; member, support in registering position thereon a top cover member, then place the same in a press, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and frictionally connect the said shell with its cover member beneath the head member of the press. We then, by a similar operation, connect the bottom member frictionally beneath. an intermediate reversible member of the press. This reversible member is then inverted to cause the flange portions of the shells to extend toward each other. Thereafter pressure is applied on the head to cause, in one operation, the clinching of the covers between the flanges along the beltreceiving aperture and at the same time pressing the outer extension portion of the covers together to provide a pressed joint along such outer edges and also preferably during the same operation, forcing the engaged flanges at the outer peripheries of the shells, into an interlocking engagement Within the belt.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated, we provide a press 9, comprising a conventional base member I and a novel head II. This novel head embodies an outer rimpressing member I2, a central core member or plug I3 and an intermediate body contacting member M. In the embodiment shown, the pressing member I2, is fast on the head II while the core member I3 and intermediate member I4 are relatively removable in relation thereto and also relatively removable in relation to each other. In the initial operation illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, 5 and 6, a top shell member I is supported on a bed I8, with its perimetric flange 2 extending into a groove Id while its inner flanges 4 extend into an opening Ifl A top cover 6 is supported on the shell member I with its outwardly-extending portion 8' projecting outwardly beyond the flange 2 and being supported within a perimetric groove Ill. The head II of the press is then brought into contact with the base portion III, while all of the parts of the head are locked into stationary relationship, the intermediate member of the press I4 being held within the head by a pin I 4 (see Fig. 9 which is engaged by a lever I4 having a notch M adapted to engage the pin I4 so as to hold the member I4 from moving downwardly during the initial operation of connecting the top shell and cover member beneath the press head. When the intermediate member is thus held and the head applied on the base member III, a pressure exerted, by any suitable means, not shown, on the head will exert pressure against the spring I4 and will cause the core member I3 to move downwardly relatively to the intermediate member so as to force the flanges 1 of the cover member against the flanges 4 of the shell member and to provide a frictional connection between such flanges and the plug member I3, so that upon raising or elevating the head I I out of contact with the base member, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the top shell and the top cover mem ber will be held in elevated position beneath the head member, it being understood that on the application of such pressure, the lever I I will lock the pin I4 and hold the member I4 in elevated position.

We now make a similar operation in relation to the lower member. In so doing we insert, on the bed of the press, an intermediate reversible press member I6 which embodies a bed portion I6 and a central core portion or plug II, as more particularly shown in Fig, 7, Upon similarly applying pressure on the core member or plug IT, by the head II, a bottom shell memebr I and a bottom cover member 6 will be similarly frictionally fastened beneath the intermediate member I I5, it being understood that during this operation the core member I3 will be locked against upward movement in relation to the head so that it may apply pressure on the core member ll. This locking of the core member is preferably accomplished by the provision of a cross member I3 connected to the core member and locked against upward movement by arms I9, It. Upon moving the head I I and reversing the intermediate member I6 into the position shown in Fig. 8, the top and bottom shells and top and bottom cover members will be brought into proper connectible relationship to each other in which the flanges of the shells are extended toward each other. Now by applying pressure to the head and bringing the parts into the position shown in Figs!) and 9 the arms M and I9 will be released and the flanges of the shells at the beltreceiving aperture will be clinched together as shown in Figs. 9, 9 and 10, while the outwardly extending edges of the cover members wlilbe pressed together to form a pressed joint. During this operation the member I4, will rise slightly against the action of the springs Id and the pressed joint will be formed in a plane substantially coinciding with the lower surface of the bottom shell. Durin this operation, the inner edge of the member I 2 will press the outer flange of the upper shell into interlocking engagement with the lower flange.

The buckle can now be removed from thepress and will be complete with clinched joints along the belt-receiving aperture and a pressed joint around the outer edge.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for manufacturing covered belt buckles embodying, in combination, a die bed and a clinching head comprising an outer rim member, a core member and an intermediate frame-contacting member one of said clinching head members being movable in relation to the other for the purpose hereinabove specified.

2. Apparatus for manufacturing covered belt buckles embodying, in combination, a die bed and a clinching head comprising an outer rim member fixed in relation to said head, a core member and an intermediate frame-contacting member one of said clinching head members being movable in relation to said rim member for the purpose hereinabove specified.

3. Apparatus for manufacturing covered beltv buckles embodying, in combination, a die bed and a clinching head comprising an outer rim member fixed in relation to said head, a core member andan intermediate frame-contactin member, one of said clinching head members being movable in relation to said rim member for the purpose hereinabove specified, said core member being also retained in stationary relationship to said head and movement of one of said clinching head members being adapted, in one operation, to clinch the folded edge portions of the cover members at the belt-receiving aperture and to apply pressure on extended outer edges of the cover members.

SAM LEVIN.

LOUIS ROSENBERG. 

